Directive No. 28/BYT-CT on the implementation of the Labor Protection Ordinance

DIRECTIVE

ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LABOR PROTECTION ORDINANCE

On November 4, 1991, the Council of Ministers issued Directive No. 359/CT on the implementation of the Labor Protection Ordinance which was promulgated by the State Council on September 10, 1991.

Based on the Law on Health Protection, Sanitation Regulations, and State Inspection on Health (issued pursuant to Decree No. 23/HĐBT dated January 24, 1991 of the Council of Ministers); to effectively implement the contents of the Ordinance on Occupational Hygiene and occupational hygiene inspection, contributing positively to enhancing the effectiveness of state management in the field of protecting people's health; the Ministry of Health directs subordinate units, provincial Departments of Health, and health sectors as follows:

1. Organize training and study sessions on the Labor Protection Ordinance for staff under their management, especially those in preventive medicine units, occupational health stations, and health inspectors to thoroughly understand the regulations on occupational hygiene and the five tasks of state inspection on occupational hygiene (Article 37 of the Ordinance).

2. Coordinate with the Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and the provincial trade unions to organize training sessions on occupational hygiene for leaders and workers in factories and enterprises within their jurisdiction. For sectoral health centers, they may coordinate with safety offices or provincial health departments based on conditions to organize training for staff and workers in factories and enterprises under their respective ministries.

3. Provincial and municipal health departments must urgently establish and strengthen their health inspection departments according to the guidelines of the Ministry (as per Circular No. 08/BYT-TT dated July 2, 1991 of the Ministry of Health). Depending on organizational structure and staffing conditions, provincial and municipal health departments directly under the central government may appoint occupational hygiene inspectors (including occupational hygiene) from specialized staff in preventive medicine stations/centers or occupational health stations. State inspections on occupational hygiene must follow the general guidance of the Ministry of Health’s inspection department and the five tasks and authorities stipulated in Article 37 of the Labor Protection Ordinance.

4. Medical facilities need to be assigned and plan to organize regular health check-ups, detect and treat occupational diseases, provide timely emergency care for individuals injured at factories and enterprises; treat and rehabilitate workers within their assigned scope. The recruitment examination, regular health check-ups, and classification of worker health status will continue to be implemented according to existing regulations of the Ministry of Health.

The Institute of Occupational Medicine shall guide sectoral health centers, provincial and municipal hospitals on technical matters related to preventing, detecting occupational diseases, and organizing existing treatment facilities for occupational diseases.

Provincial and municipal preventive medicine stations/occupational health stations need to urgently complete investigations and establish occupational hygiene files for factories and enterprises to assess the current situation and propose measures to address existing issues. They should consolidate testing laboratories serving occupational hygiene work at preventive medicine stations/occupational health stations; places without testing laboratories need to develop plans to build them or enter into contracts with the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Pasteur Institute Nha Trang, Public Health Institute, and West Highland Public Health Institute to conduct necessary tests.

The Institutes of Occupational Medicine, Pasteur Institute Nha Trang, West Highland Public Health Institute, and Public Health Institute need to develop plans to train and enhance the technical skills of specialized staff and occupational hygiene inspectors in provinces and cities and sectors, particularly in environmental monitoring techniques. At the same time, they need to implement research, evaluation, and advise the Ministry to promptly issue standards for occupational hygiene and environmental hygiene suitable for current capabilities and situations based on existing laws.

To enhance the effectiveness of state management over occupational hygiene, subordinate units of the Ministry, provincial and municipal health departments, and sectoral health centers must develop plans to implement this directive. Implementation plans and results from these units and localities must be reported fully to the Ministry.